'Nuair a thàinig na Gàidheil gu Ceap Breatainn air thùs, is furasda fhaicinn nach robh iad idir measail air an àite. Mar a sgrìobh am bàrd Mac 'Illeathain, " 'S i seo an dùthaich 's a bheil an cruadal" agus chìthear beachdan 'is smuaintean mar sin ann an iomadh òran a sgrìobhadh greis an déidh dhaibh thighinn.

An ceann ùine ghabh iad ris an t-àite gu mór 's gu ro mhór. Mar a sgrìobh Gilleasbuig Mac Coinnich mu dheidhinn an eilein, "...tìr mo dhùthchais, tìr mo ghràidh..."  

Ged a rinneadh iomadh gearan air a' gheamhradh ( mar a thachras an diugh! ) , chòrd na samhraidhean ri na Gàidheil gu ro mhath, an déidh dhaibh fàs cleachdte riutha! Agus carson nach còrdadh?

"Le fàileadh cùbhraidh chraobhan ubhla..." ( Òran Molaidh Loch Lomond" le Dòmhnall Mac Dòmhnaill ) - Nach maiseach na craobhan ubhail tràth 'san t-samhradh 's iad làn de bhlàthan geala 's fiamh ban-dhearg orra? Ach a bhith coiseachd fomhpa, am fàileadh 'gad lìonadh 's dranndan nan seillean 'gad chuairteachadh!

 " Le 'thulaichean àrd' toirt dhuinn sealladh thar sàile... " ( Òran do Cheap Breatainn le Eòghann Mac Coinnich ) - Is furasda sealladh druidheil fhaighinn air feadh an eilein, air am móran de Slighean a th' ann gu h-àraid. Leis cho pàilt a tha iad, cha chreid mi gun gabhadh 'ad seachnadh!

"Tha an t-Eilean Dubh a' fàs fo ghlòir..." ( Òran Mo Sheann Dachaidh le Tormod Mór Mac Mhathain - Tha an t-Eilean Dubh ann an Còbh nam Breatainneach. )  - Tha Ceap Breatainn air leth torach 'na dhòigh fhéin, ged nach eil a h-uile h-àite freagarrach airson àiteachaidh. Chìthear lusan 'is craobhan a' còmhdachadh gach uile cnoc 'is lagan gu lìonmhor.

"Lochan fìor-uisge nan ceudan..." ( "Do Cheap Breatainn" leis an urramach Tormod Mac Dòmhnaill ) - 'S fhìor sin! Beag 'is mór agus cuid dhiubh cho domhain 's gu bheil e 'na bheul-aithris nach eil grunnd idir aca!

" Mo chadal buan-sa, Bidh e cho suaimhneach, Ma bhios mo chluasag 'san Innis Àigh." ( "An Innis Àigh" le Aonghas Mac 'ill Fhaolain )  - 'Sann ann am Margaraidh a tha an Innis Àigh, agus bidh na faclan seo a' sealltainn dhuinn an gaol a bh' aig ar sinnsearan air na dachaidhean a bh' ac' a' seo.

Sin Ceap Breatainn a's t-samhradh. Ach an geamhradh... an dà, bidh cleòca eile air!

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Summer in Cape Breton

When the Gaels first came to Cape Breton, it's easy to see they weren't at all pleased with the place. As the bard MacLean wrote, " This is the country in which there is hardship " and thoughts and opinions like that can be seen in many a song that was written shortly after they arrived.

In time they came to enjoy the place very much. As Archie MacKenzie wrote, " ... land of my heritage, land I love... "

Although there was much complaint about the winters ( as there is today! ) the summers were very agreeable to them, after they got used to them! And why wouldn't they?

"With the fragrant apple trees..." ( A Song in Praise of Loch Lomod" by Donald MacDonald ) - Aren't the apple trees beautiful early in the summer when they are full of white blossoms with a pink tinge to them? Just to be walking under them, the aroma filling you and the buzzing of the bees all around you!

" With high hills giving us a view across the ocean..." ( A Song for Cape Breton" by Hugh MacKenzie ) It's easy to find impressive vistas all over Cape Breton, especially on the many Trails that are here. With how abundant they are, it's difficult to avoid them!

"The Black Island is growing gloriously..." ( A Song to my Old Home" by Big Norman Matheson  - The Black Island is in Breton Cove ) Cape Breton is exceptionally fertile in it's own way although not every place is suitable for farming. Plants and trees plentifully cover every little hill and hollow.

"Lakes of pure water in their hundreds... (  "For Cape Breton" by the reverend Norman MacDonald ) - That's true! Small and large, and some so deep that local lore has it that they have no bottom!

" My eternal sleep, It will be so peaceful, If my pillow lies on the Isle of Joy. " ( The Isle of Joy " by Angus MacLellan ) The Isle of Joy is in Margaree, and these words show us the love our ancestors had for their homes here.

That's Cape Breton in the summer. But the winter... well, it wears a different kind of cloak!